The best hotels in Morocco for a sun-drenched getaway
As an editor and travel writer who has spent a lot of time in the kingdom of light, trying to pick the best hotels in Morocco is no easy task. It's a country of enormous diversity, from the bustling ancient cities to the sweeping deserts and sun-soaked sandy beaches. Shop for authentic Berber rugs in the labyrinthine souks, relax at a traditional hammam, tuck into flavour-packed tagines and soak up the melting pot of Arabian and Berber cultures. Don't know where to start with your Moroccan holiday? You've come to the right place.
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What area is best to stay in Morocco?
Marrakech is the most popular Moroccan city amongst tourists and is just a 3 and a half hour flight from London. There are plenty of mosques, gardens and palaces to explore, but Marrakech is also synonymous with high-end hospitality, thanks to its five-star hotels and riads, palatial homes, award-winning restaurants and luxury spas and hammams. The medina – Marrakech's ancient fortified citadel dating back to the Berber Empire – is the main tourist attraction, with winding alleys lined with souks selling traditional jewellery, textiles and ceramics. The deep-blue Jardin Majorelle is another main attraction, a beautiful botanical garden owned by Yves Saint Laurent.
Further north is Fez, Morocco's oldest imperial city, which is slightly less tourist-filled than its smaller medieval counterpart and is said to boast the largest medina in the world, with over 9,000 alleyways packed with shop and stalls.
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For a more modern city escape (with some sandy beaches thrown in for good measure), head to Casablanca, Morocco's largest city and economic capital which sits just an hour or so south of the capital Rabat, and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.
Other coastal cities worth visiting are Tangier and Essaouira. The former in the north offers some of Morocco's best beaches, while the latter towards the south is famed for its laidback atmosphere, pretty blue houses and water sports.
For our edit of the best hotels in Morocco for a sun-drenched, culture-filled holiday in 2023, keep scrolling…
Four Seasons Marrakech
The Four Seasons is a ten-minute drive from the airport, and only ten minutes by cab into the Medina, the old walled city of Marrakech. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy some rest and relaxation, away from the hustle and bustle of city life, but also close enough to dip in and out, and experience the city sites or surrounding countryside whenever you desire. The vibe of the hotel is understated, modern Moroccan luxury; the recently refurbed rooms in warm tones of clay, sand and and terracotta make for a relaxing atmosphere, and strike a difference to the traditionally more ornate Moroccan interiors.
Start the day in the sunny restaurant veranda feasting on the breakfast buffet (handily open until 11) – serving everything from pancakes and omelettes to yoghurt, fruit and our favourite Moroccan speciality shakshuka. Then head to the pool to soak up the sunshine. There’s a family-friendly pool and a quieter adult one where you’ll remain undisturbed if you want to nap on your sun bed or swim laps. For when you want more activity, there's a fully-equipped gym and tennis courts on site, and for younger travellers there's also an activity space with a playstation, pool table and basketball hoop. Also worth visiting is the beautiful spa. Book in for the traditional Hamman treatment – a full body cleanse with black soap, followed by a deep scrub exfoliation and wash down in warm water – there's nothing like it to leave skin super smooth and the body feeling light and refreshed. For the more adventurous, the hotel can arrange trips out to the Agafay desert, where you can experience the rocky landscape by camel or quad bike.
BEST FOR: A relaxing base to chill, where it’s also easy to dip in and out of city life in Marrakech
ADDRESS: 1 BOULEVARD DE LA MENARA, MARRAKECH, 40000
PRICE PER NIGHT: From $590.
SPA? Yes
Save when you book the best hotels in Morocco with these booking.com promo codes.
Dar Housnia, Marrakech
Located in the quieter, crowd-free area of the media, Kâat Benahid, Dar Housnia is ideal for a laidback stay still within easy reach of the main sights and the souks. There's a mezzanine swimming pool, large terrace with excellent views, and a hammam and massage room for spa treatments. There's four luxurious rooms and a two-bedroom douiria (guesthouse) are individually decorated and feature standout art and antiques.
BEST FOR: Staying in an authentic area off the tourist track.
ADDRESS: 2 Derb lalla Azouna, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £160.
SPA? YesSave when you book the best hotels in Morocco with these booking.com promo codes.
Royal Mansour, Marrakech
Royal Mansour is, quite simply, the stuff of dreams, and certainly the most prominent luxury hotel in Marrakech. As soon as you enter the palace – designed by the king of Morocco, King Mohammed VI – you'll be taken aback by its beautiful decor; impossibly intricate mosaic and stucco, carved wood and gleaming metallic furniture, completed by over 1,500 artisans and craftspeople. The property's five hectares of gardens and 53 riads – each with their own private pool – are housed within the imperial city walls and overlooked by the peaks of the Atlas Mountains, while its location between the historic centre and Ville Nouvelle (new town) make it the perfect base for exploring. The spa is arguably the best in Marrakech (or perhaps the whole of Morocco), and there's an impressive outdoor swimming pool surrounded by palm trees. The food in Royal Mansour's three restaurants (one, Le Jardin, has a Michelin star) is second to none. It may be pricey, but Royal Mansour is the sort of place that will stay with you long after you've landed home.
BEST FOR: A luxury stay you'll never forget.
ADDRESS: Rue Abou Abbas El Sebti، 40000, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £1200.
SPA? YesSave when you book the best hotels in Morocco with these booking.com promo codes.
Riad Fes, Fes
A luxury oasis tucked away down a private street in the heart of Fes medina, Riad Fes – a Relais & Chateaux property – is Moroccan opulence at its finest. 30 rooms are available in various categories, from classic rooms to suites, and there's a courtyard with a pool ideal for cooling off from the north African sun. The spa and hammam cabins are the jewel in Riad Fes's crown, where deeply relaxing treatments are complemented by marocMaroc products; a premium Moroccan brand using locally-sourced ingredients. Don't miss a sunset cocktail on the pretty roof terrace which offers unbeatable views over the labyrinthine medina.
BEST FOR: A five-star hotel in the heart of the medina.
ADDRESS: 5, Derb Ben Slimane, Fes El Bali, 30000 Fès, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £200.
SPA? YesSave when you book the best hotels in Morocco with these booking.com promo codes.
Hotel Sahrai, Fes
The sister property of Riad Fes, Hotel Sahrai is a boutique hotel gem perched on a hilltop above the new town with sprawling views across the ancient city to Mount Zalagh. The 50 rooms are bright and comfy and for dinner, choose between continental cuisine at Relais de Paris Restaurant or typical Moroccan fare at Amaraz Restaurant. The brilliant marble-clad spa – the only Givenchy spa in North Africa – is not to be missed (try the 60-minute traditional hammam treatment), before relaxing by the infinity pool sipping a mint tea.
BEST FOR: A rare five-star modern retreat in Fez's ancient city.
ADDRESS: Dhar El Mehraz, Fes 30 000, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £210.
SPA? Yes
Le Jardin des Douars, Essaouira
A secluded palatial hideaway tucked away in the Essaouira hills, this charming Morocco hotel is ideal for those needing a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle. Spend days reading by the adults' pool (the other is cleverly reserved for families and small children), taking a walk in the bougainvillea-walled gardens, blissing out in the hammam, or sipping a cocktail in front of the fireplace before dinner. There's 19 rooms and 6 suites and the food on offer varies from traditional tagines and couscous to a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian dishes. Check in and bliss out.
BEST FOR: A relaxing wellness break.
ADDRESS: N1, Essaouira, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £150.
SPA? YesSave when you book the best hotels in Morocco with these booking.com promo codes.
La Sultana, Marrakech
Opulent Moorish decor blends with high-quality facilities at this much-loved five-star hotel, which is a 10-minute walk to Jamaâ El Fna Square and boasts a sprawling outdoor swimming pool and a stunning pink marble spa. When it comes to dining, there's an impressive amount to choose from, whether you want traditional Moroccan street food at La Table du Souk or innovative fine-dining at La Table de La Sultana. The 28 rooms scream luxury: high ceilings, rich colours, towering marble columns, and marble bathrooms. A truly special hotel perfect for a celebratory trip with the girls or a romantic retreat.
BEST FOR: Total opulence.
ADDRESS: 403 Rue de La Kasbah, 63-67 rue Boutouille, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £440.
SPA? Yes
Le Maison de Tanger, Tangier
With neo-Moroccon decor that celebrates the country's Art Deco boom in the early 20th century, Le Maison de Tanger is perfectly off the tourist track, tucked away down a residential street 10 minutes' drive from the medina and kasbah. The garden, lined with orange trees, is home to a tiled pool perfect for cooling off from the sunshine. The five rooms and three suites are bright and spacious, and most have a private terrace or balcony.
BEST FOR: An affordable and authentic stay.
ADDRESS: 9 Rue Al Mabarrah, Tangier 90030, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £70.
SPA? NoSave when you book the best hotels in Morocco with these booking.com promo codes.
Nobu Hotel, Marrakech
Nobu's first African hotel just opened on 23rd January 2023, and the all-suite luxury property has already created a huge buzz. The 71 suites are split across three floors and are contemporary in design, with views over the High Atlas Mountains or Marrakech's biggest mosque, Koutoubia Mosque. Of course, there's a Nobu Restaurant and Bar serving signature dishes (black cod miso and yellowtail jalapeno sashimi, anyone?), plus a panoramic rooftop with a circular pool and sushi bar, as well as one of Nobu Hotels' largest spas.
BEST FOR: Contemporary luxury (and Nobu lovers, of course).
ADDRESS: 3 , Rue des Temples, Hivernage, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £350.
SPA? Yes
Palais Amani, Fez
Housed in a former 17th century palace, Palais Amani boasts an excellent location, just two minutes from the main entrance to Fes's main medina. Decor is beautifully authentic, with zellije tiles, huge wooden doors, traditional rugs and furnishings upholstered in Moroccan fabric. The restaurant serves Moroccan and French cuisine and the hammam has a range of treatments available.
BEST FOR: Exploring the medina.
ADDRESS: 12 Derb El Miter, Fès 30000, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £170.
SPA? YesSave when you book the best hotels in Morocco with these booking.com promo codes.
Ptit Habibi, Marrakech
P'tit Habibi is somewhat away from the livelier area of Marrakech, in the Bab El Khmis neighbourhood, about 15 minutes from the souks and the Djemaa el Fna. The unique decor of this five-room boutique bolthole blends contemporary Scandi with vintage Moroccan, and wouldn't look out of place on an interiors inspo Instagram page. It's not just about the chic minimalist design though; there's a rooftop plunge pool, delicious Moroccan dishes served up by the chef, and staff can arrange an outdoor cinema viewing in the courtyard. A real home away from home.
BEST FOR: Interiors lovers.
ADDRESS: Zaouia, 59, Touala Sidi Ghanem, Sidi Bel Abbes, Marrakech 40030, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £130.
SPA? No
Four Seasons, Casablanca
If you find yourself in Casablanca on your Moroccan adventure, Four Seasons is the city's most hip, luxe offering. Perched on Anfa Hill with glorious views over the Atlantic Ocean, the hotel has direct access to the beach and boasts the country's only Guerlain spa. 10 minutes away is the Hassan II Mosque, the largest operating mosque in Africa, and is certainly worth a visit.
BEST FOR: A Moroccan beach holiday.
ADDRESS: Bd de la Corniche, Casablanca, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £320.
SPA? YesSave when you book the best hotels in Morocco with these booking.com promo codes.
Heure Bleue, Essaouira
A charming 18th century raid which has been transformed into a luxury five-star hotel with 33 suites and rooms, Heure Bleue is the only Relais & Chateaux property in Essaouira. Relax in the traditional hamman, take in the views over the medina and ocean from the outdoor panoramic pool, and enjoy French and Moroccan fusion cuisine from head chef Ahmed Handour.
BEST FOR: A five-star stay in Essaouira.
ADDRESS: 2 Rue Ibn Batouta, Essaouira 44000, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £170.
SPA? Yes
Riad Jaaneman, Marrakech
Riad Jaaneman falls at the more affordable end of accommodation options when it comes to luxurious riads with a prime medina location. This boutique guesthouse is an intimate, chic retreat, with a bright-blue, tree-lined plunge pool at its centre. Cosy up in one of the hotel's beautiful reading nooks and tuck into a Moroccan breakfast of fruits and pancakes on the shaded terrace.
BEST FOR: An affordable boutique bolthole.
ADDRESS: 12 Derb Sraghna, Dar El Bacha, Medina, Medina, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £160.
SPA? NoSave when you book the best hotels in Morocco with these booking.com promo codes.
La Mamounia, Marrakech
Famous for its orientalist and Art Deco interiors, and its list of celebrity and VIP guests, La Mamounia is a sprawling palatial oasis just outside the medina and opposite the Kutubiyya Mosque. There's four restaurants, four bars, two tea rooms, and an incredible underground spa offering exquisite hammam treatments, facials and massages, and a variety of hair and beauty treatments. The 135 rooms, 71 suites and 3 riads with beautiful Moroccan detailing and plush amenities. The hotel can arrange golf course trips too, for those wishing for a spot of sport.
BEST FOR: A celebratory holiday fit for a queen.
ADDRESS: Avenue Bab Jdid, Marrakesh 40040, Morocco
PRICE PER NIGHT: From £600.
SPA? Yes
